Switch construction



May 10, 1938. H, E ADAMS 2,116,495

SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Deo. 1, 1936- 5 Sheets-Sheet l f .y /mmm A y l f 7 I )A a ULIQLIU A Homey May 10, 1938.. H. E. ADAMS swITcH CONSTRUCTION 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. l, 1956 93.2.1 :IIJ l Inventr lll A torne ys May 10, 1938. H E. ADNWS 2,116,495,

SWITCH CONSTRUCTION l Filed Deq. l, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 SWS Irfuenor 7. ,Hdd/725 Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention pertains to new and useful improvements in railway switches.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide improvements in switches whereby splitting of the switch when rolling stock is trailing the points thereof is prevented.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an adjunct for switches whereby when the cars of a train pass over the switch points,

the trailing direction, the points are shifted to the opposite rail from that which they are lined from the switch stand.`

Another important object of the invention is to provide an automatic device of this character l5 which will be positive acting and not susceptible to the ready development of defects.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the irnproved switch.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the attachment.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View through the attachment.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 represents an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the intermediate portion of the barrel of the attachment.

Figure 6 is a side elevational View with parts broken away showing the thrust bar of the switch.

Figure 7 represents a side elevational view partly in section of the bridle bar connecting yoke.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts it can be seen in Figure l that numerals 5-5 represent the rails of a railway. Numerals 6 6 represent rails of a branch line and to the ends of these rails 6--6 are pivotally connected the switch points 'I-I which are actuated by the bridle bar 8. This bridle bar 8 is engaged into the yoke 9 and connected by a pin at IIJ thereto.

Figure 1 also shows the attachment which is generally referred to by numeral II. The usual switch box I2 has the switch operating lever I3 and from the box I2 extends the shaft I4 which is pivotally connected at I5 to the yoke I6 of the thrust bar I1.

Figure 3 shows the attachment which is generally referred to by numeral II and consists of the barrel I8 one end of which has the plug I9 screwed therein while the opposite end has a threaded plug 2D disposed therein. The threaded portion ZI of the yoke 9 is engaged into the plug I9, which plug is provided with a polygonal extension 22 and a jam nut 23 on the threaded shank 2| can be engaged with the plug I9 to pre- 5 vent any self adjusting of this connection.

The thrust rod I'I is slidably disposed through the plug 20 and has the elongated cylindrical body 24 secured to its inner end.

The cylindrical body 24 is provided With a pair 10 of longitudinally extending channels 25 for receiving the longitudinally extending ribs 26 on the inside of the barrel I8. These ribs and grooves 25 serve to prevent rotation of the body 24 in the barrel. 15

At the intermediate portion of the body 24 a circumferentially extending groove 21 is formed for receiving a pair of arcuate shaped keepers 28--28 the same being provided with bevelledl side portions 29 so that the same can readily slip 20, into or out of the circumferentially extending channel-way 30 on the inside of the barrel I8. Each of these arcuate shaped keepers 28 is pro-- vided with an inwardly disposed stud 3| extend-4 ing into a diametrically extending bore 32` of 25 the cylindrical body 24 and is clearly shown in Figure 4, a coiled compression spring 33 is located in this bore 32 with its end convolutions engaging over the stud 3| and bearing against the arcuate shaped members 28 so that they are held normally 30 in the channel-way 30 of the barrel I8.

It can now be seen, that when the trucks of the cars hit the points 'I-I, the pressure shifts the before described clutch from dead center, that is allows the arcuate members 28-28 to disengage 35 from the channel-way 30 so that the cylindrical body 24 is free to shift, this allowing passage of the car trucks over the switch point. Springs 34-34 are provided between the opposite ends of the eyiindrien body 24 and the said plugs ls-zn 40 so as to equalize the position of the body 24 in the barrel I8.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as is claimed hereinafter.

What is claimed isz- 1. In combination with the switch points of 5 a switch and means for throwing the same, a clutch positioned between the switch points and the throw means whereby the switch points are permitted to shift when cars pass over the switch trailing points, said shifting being independent 55 of the throw means, said clutch comprising a barrel, a rod slidable into the barrel and being connected at its outer end to the throw means, said switch points being connected to the barrel, a body on the inner end of the said rod, spring pressed interengaging means between the body and the barrel normally restraining the body and barrel against relative movement, said barrel being actuated by pressure on the switch point for movement relative to the body.

2. Infcombination with the switch points of a switch and means for throwing the same, a clutch positioned between the switch points and the throw means whereby the switch points are permitted to shift when cars pass over the switch trailing points, said shifting being independent of the throw means, said clutch comprising a barrel, a rod slidable into the barrel and being connected at its outer end to the throw means, said switch points being connected to the barrel, a body on the inner end of the said rod, spring pressed interengaging means between the bodxr and the barrel normally restraining the body and `barrel against relative movement, said barrel being actuated by pressure on the switch point for movement relative to the body, and equalizing means between the ends of the body and the ends of the said barrel.

3. In combination with the switch points of a switch and means for throwing the same, a clutch positioned between the switch points and the throw means whereby the switch points are permitted to shift when cars pass over the switch trailing points, said shifting being independent of the throw means, said clutch comprising a barrel having an internal annular groove, a rod slidable into the barrel and being connected at its outer end to the throw means, said switch points being connected to the barrel, a body on the inner end of the said rod, spring projected shoes carried by the body and seated in said groove for normally restraining relative movement between the barrel and body, said barrel being actuated by pressure on the switch point, and tongue and groove means between the barrel and the body for preventing rotation of the body.

HERMAN EL ADAMS. 

